native clay
I have known of the existence of local bentonite clay for a long time. The local clays I use at this time don’t need extra plasticity.
Some times a small addition of bentonite can add some plasticity to an otherwise non plastic raw material.
One of the oldest clays I have found.
The first firing of my new wood fired kiln at the end of October 2018. With some support from Ealaíon na Gaeltachta I was able to build, and fire this kiln using only local clays.
Wood firing local clays to cone 8 [1250 celsius] and going very slowly to temperature, it was very interesting controlling the speed of the flames. I used some birch, but mostly local sitka spruce a fast growing pine in this Irish climate.
In 2014 I started using local clays that I found here on the Dingle Peninsula. At this time I only work with local clays.
I am very happy with the fired result from these native. The results are very rewarding I look forward to using the knowledge gained for the next firing.
Mo mhíle buíochas d’Ealaíon na Gaeltachta as ucht a gcuid tacaíochta thar na blianta leis an dtionscanamh seo. Thank you to Ealaíon na Gaeltachta for your support over the years with this project.
I am very happy to see my work on the cover of Ceramics Ireland latest issue and to have my article published in this issue.
